WOODGATE, Herbert John
| Service Number: | 407310 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Burra, SA, 1 October 1920 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 17 Aug 1940: | Involvement Flying Officer, 407310 | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 17 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 407310 | |
| 4 Oct 1945: | Discharged |
MIXED FEELINGS ON AUSTRALIA'S PROUDEST DAY
ANZAC Day is without doubt Australia's favourite day, with family, friends and Politician's gathering together to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of, generally young, Australians.
With glistening medals and shining shoes, service people meet with their communities in songs of pride and remembrance, waiting for the haunting tones of the Last Post - before bowing their heads for one minute's silence.
It's during that private inner silence, that service people remember the good and the not so good, but they always have a cloaked smile or tear for their old mates.
Service, in many forms, changes lives and the spirit of ANZAC mateship continues today, in times of hardship such as family traumas, cyclones, floods and bush fires.
ANZAC mates come together to rescue one another, to ease suffering, to provide food and shelter, they look after one another and let each other know they are not alone - they're understood and loved.
I pray that the spirit of ANZAC drifts into every crevice of our lives and leads our leaders and Politicians to serve their compassionate communities.
By Glenn Power
Submitted 10 May 2016 by Sharyn Roberts
LOCAL FLYING OFFICER HONOURED
Past resident of Cooke Plains for eighteen years and WELLINGTON Aircraft Tail Gunner, the late Flight Officer Herbert John Woodgate, has been honoured in the latest museum installation at the Murray Bridge RSL.
Of the two Vickers Wellington gunnery positions, the tail gunner was by far the most dangerous and coldest, with condensation from breathing often freezing lips to crucial oxygen masks and tear ducts in the eyes, freezing up.
Keeping warm was a high operational priority for all rear gunners and Flight Officer (FO) Woodgate, was no exception.
His tribute boasts most of his battledress, framed family portraits, service trunk, gas-mask and even a complete woollen-lined, leather flying suit with leather helmet and wool-lined flying boots - the exhibit also has a well preserved complete dress uniform.
The unique and comprehensive collection, is validated with pay records, flying logs and two wonderful photo albums - all kindly loaned to the Murray Bridge RSL by FO Woodgate's widow, Mrs Roma Woodgate of Murray Bridge - who lived with her dear Herbert and her children, Elizabeth, Judith, Robyn, Marie, Barbara and Edward, in Cooke Plains from 1964 to 1982.
With a little reading and studying of the brilliant images captured on FO Woodgate's Box Brownie camera, visitors can journey into the story of "Woody's" military life in the air and on the ground, during World War II.
Commemorating the unveiling of the exhibition the family has purchased a colourful Golden Ash tree to be positioned in Tailem Bend's recently announced RSL's ‘Avenue of Honour’ on Railway Terrace, Tailem Bend.
By Glenn Power
If you would like to purchase an established Golden Ash tree, please contact Keith Wood on 0417 869 096.
Submitted 10 May 2016 by Sharyn Roberts
Flight Officer WOODGATE honoured at Murray Bridge RSL
WELLINGTON Tail Gunner, Flight Officer Herbert John Woodgate, to be honoured in the latest museum installation, at the Murray Bridge RSL - with a private family unveiling to be held during April 25, 2016.
Of the two Vickers Wellington gunnery positions, the tail gunner was by far the most dangerous and coldest, with condensation from breathing often freezing mouths to crucial oxygen masks and tear ducts in the eyes, freezing up.
Keeping warm was a high operational priority for all rear gunners and Flight Officer (FO) Woodgate was no exception.
His tribute boasts most of his battledress, framed family portraits, service trunk, gas-mask and even a complete woollen-lined, leather flying suit with leather helmet and thick wool-lined flying boots - the exhibit also has a well preserved complete dress uniform.
The unique, comprehensive, collection is validated with pay records, flying logs and two wonderful photo albums - all kindly loaned to the Murray Bridge RSL by FO Woodgate's widow, Mrs Roma Woodgate of Murray Bridge.
With a little reading and studying of the brilliant images captured on FO Woodgate's Box Brownie camera, visitors can journey into the story of "Woody's" military life in the air and on the ground, during World War II.
Submitted 10 May 2016 by Sharyn Roberts
Biography
Born October 1, 1920 in Burra, South Australia, Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) Flight Officer (FO) Herbert John Woodgate, enlisted in the RAF on August 17, 1940.
Joining his unit the following day, FO Woodgate spent eight months training at the Ballarat RAAF Base, Victoria, before embarking, on what must have felt like, a 'journey of a lifetime'.
Keeping meticulous hand written records, FO Woodgate's diaries, pay books and photo albums, take interested readers through his departure from Australia on May 28, 1941, via train from Ballarat to Melbourne and onto Sydney, where he boarded Blue Funnel Line's steam ship, SS Sarpedon.
Steaming through Fremantle to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal to Cape Town, Africa, to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the West Indies, FO Woodgate continued to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, before joining a battleship convoy en route to Belfast, Ireland.
Disembarking the SS Sarpedon, he crossed the Channel from Ireland to Scotland, on yet another steamer, anchoring in Loch Ryan, Stranraer.
Travelling by train, FO Woodgate arrived in the seaside village of Bournemouth, via London, and was comfortably billeted in the superb Hotel Metropole.
With eight days leave on the north Cornwall coast, FO Woodgate writes of the splendour of the stunning sea and harbour views, before leaving for the Wellington Aircraft of 20 Operational Training Unit (OTU), RAF Base Lossiemouth, Scotland.
After three and a half months of operational training, FO Woodgate left for London, leaving the Wellingtons of 20 OTU for the aircraft of OPS Station Stradishall, Suffolk, England - he writes fondly of his leave in London and the beauty of the art deco icon - Strand Place Hotel.
Arriving back at RAF West Freugh, Scotland, with over 220 hours of operational flying under his belt, Rear Gunner FO Woodgate, had flown over and landed in places like Malta in the Mediterranean Sea, Heliopolis (Egypt), Khartoum (Sudan), Kano (Nigeria), Apapa (Laos), Habbaaniya (Iraq), Dhuba (Oman, Arabia), Bahrein (Persian Gulf), Kallia (Dead Sea, Palestine), Karachi (India), Pandaveswar (West Bengal, India), Ninga (Congo/Tanzania), Digri (Pakistan) and Meiktila (Burma), where his crew conducted anti-shipping sweeps, as he sank small vessels with machine gun fire, after bombing Faki Port with nine 250lb bombs.
Safely back in Scotland, the Rear Gunner was tasked with armament training at RAF West Freugh, allowing him to demonstrate his practical experience in handling and deployment of ordnance.
Spending his last few months in Europe at RAF Padgate, Cheshire, England, Sergeant Woodgate was promoted to Warrant Officer on June 1, 1944 before heading home by sea, via New York, San Francisco - disembarking in Australia at RAAF Base Sandgate, Brighton, Queensland on October 21, 1944.
Spending a further two years in the Air Force, FO Woodgate collected his final interim pay on January, 25 1946.
FLYING LOG BOOK ENTRIES
17/1/42 - 99 SQN Flying Log 17.30 hrs Wellington "X"9979 Pilot SGT Creed, Duty Rear Gunner. Dunkirk, Nord-de-Calais, France to Ostend, Flemish Region, Belgium, 10/10 cloud (Bombs not dropped) flying time - 3.30 hrs.
FLYING LOG MISSING
18/1/42 - 5/2/42 99 SQN Flying Log - Certified loss of original log book totalling flying time (Day 58 hrs, Night 40 hrs) by S/LDR Jones.
6/2/42 - 3/3/41 99 SQN Flying Log - Wellington training Pilot SGT - P/O Campbell, Duty Rear Gunner.
Portreath - Malta-Luxmor
9/3/42 - 11/3/42 Flying Log - US Army DC3, Pilot CPT Bower, Duty Passenger.
Heliopolis (Egypt) - Khartoum (Sudan) - Alfasha - Magaduisa (Madugari - Nigeria) - Kano (Nigeria) - Apapa (Laos)
26/5/42 - 17/6/42 99 SQN Flying Log - Wellington, Pilot P/O Campbell, Duty Rear Gunner.
Training
Portreath(Cornwall) - Gibralta - 108 MU (Egypt) - Habbaaniya (Iraq) - Sharjah (Arabia) - Karachi (India) - Asansol (India) - Pandaveswar (West Bengal India)
20/8/42 - 30/8/42 99 SQN attached to 215 SQN Flying Log Wellington, Pilot P/O Campbell, Duty Rear Gunner.
Madras (Bengal)
Air Firing
Coastal Patrol
Bombing and Formation Practice
1/9/42 - 25/11/42 99 SQN Flying Log - Wellington, Pilots P/O Campbell, F/SGT Dobson, F/LT MacDonald, P/O Lall (IAF) P/O Russell, SFT Stanley, F/SGT Forsyth, Duty Rear Gunner, Drogue Attendant.
Drouge shot away during exercise
Dawn Patrol - Escorting Freighter
Dusk Anti Sub Patrol
Pandaveswar (West Bengal India) - Ninga (Congo/Tanzania) - Feni (Bay of Bengal) - Padaveswar (West Bengal India) - Digri (Pakistan) - Cuttack (eastern India) - Ranchi (India) - Developed engine trouble turned back
Salboni (Western Bengal) (bombed up 2,000 lbs) - Cooch Behar - Sasaram - Salboni
Base - ALG (bombed up) Operation Burma ALG target Meiktila (Burma)
Base - ALG (bombed up) Operation Burma ALG target Akyab (Burma)
Base - Salboni - ALG (bombed up 2,500 lbs) Operation Burma ALG target He-Ho
1/12/42 - 29/4/43 99 SQN Flying Log - Wellington, Pilots W/O Forsyth, W/Cmdr Black DFC, P/O Campbell, SGT Callander, F/SGT Clement, SGT Groocock, P/O Allen, SGT McLennan, SGT McLennan, Duty Rear Gunner.
Highlights
Base - Salboni - ALG (bombed up 2,250 lbs) target 'Drome Toungoo (Burma) (Started fire on target)
Base - Salboni - ALG (bombed up 2,250 lbs) target 'Drome Toungoo (Engine trouble - jettisoned bombs)
Engine Test
Base - Salboni - ALG (bombed up) Burma target Anti-Shipping Sweep Oyster Island, sank small boat with Machine Guns. Bombed Faki Port 9x250lbs)
Base - Salboni - ALG (bombed up) Operation Akyab Island bombed target
Base - Salboni - ALG (bombed up) Operation Mandalay (Burma) Railway Yards & Workshops bombed target
Base - Salboni - ALG (Agartala) (bombed up) Operation 4x500lbs 1x250DL bombed target He-Ho Aerodrome, Burma. (Bombed Runway)
Base - Salboni - ALG (Agartala) (bombed up) Operation 4x500lbs 1x250DL bombed target Thazi (Burma) Rail Junction.
31/8/43 Pay Book - paid in Calcutta, India.
28/9/43 - 29/9/43 - Flying Log - Passenger flying on posting from India to UK, Flying Boat, Karachi (India) - Jiwani (Baluchistan) - Dhuba (Oman, Arabia) - Bahrein (Persian Gulf) - Basrah (Iraq) - Habbaniyah (Iraq) - Kallia (Dead Sea, Palestine) - Cairo (Egypt)
Comments
Un-event full
Rather bumpy
Quite an interesting hop
Stayed overnight in super deluxe hotel
Bloody bumpy - better than a "Wimpy"
Very quick take-off over Dead Sea, 1,200 feet below sea level,
16/10/43 - 18/10/43- Flying Log - Passenger flying on posting from India to UK, Dakota (DC3) Cairo - Rabat Sale (French Morocco)
25/10/43 - 26/10/43 - Flying Log - Passenger flying on posting from India to UK, Dakota (DC3) Rabat Sale (French Morocco) - Gibralta - Chivenor (Devon)
27/10/43 London
21/1/45 - 15/2/45 Flying Log CGS Cressy, Victoria, Australia - Beaufort, Duty Range Estimator, Deflection training
4/8/45 - Flying Log Gove, Northern Territory, Australia - 13 SQN RAAF, Ventura, Pilots F/O Godfrey, F/O Clively, F/O Furze, F/Lt Bara, E/L Bridall, F/Lt - S/Ldr Elliot, Duty Gunner, Turret-Gunner. 29/3/45 13 SQN
Gove (NT) - Biak (Indonesia) - Morotai (Indonesia) - Labuan (Borneo)
99 SQN Summary of Flying on Posting 1943
SGT H.J. Woodgate
Rear Gunner
M.E. Aircraft Day 183.15 hrs
M.E. Aircraft Night 130.55 hrs
Click images to start slideshow.